Mechanism for straightening rods



June 23, 1959 w. H. PECK 2,891,59?

MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHTENING RODS Filed June 1, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 23, 1959 w. H. PEK 91,

MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHTENIITG RODS Filed June 1, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 N m m N N N E, N N Z I I I June 23, 1959 Filed June 1, 1954 w. H. PECK 2,891,597

MECHANISM FOR smlucmramm; RODS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i INVENTQR.

June 23, 1959 w. H. PECK 2,891,597

' MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHTENING RODS Filed June 1, 1954 5 Sheets-SheetA June 23, 1959 w. H. PECK MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHTENING RODS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 1, 1954 United li tes Patent MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHTENING RODS William H. Peck, Tulsa, Okla., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American-Marietta Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June I, 1954, Serial No. 433,455

3 Claims. (Cl. 153-48) The invention relates to a mechanism for straighten ing rods.

In foundries, many rods of different lengths are used in cores or moulds, which become bent and must be straightened for re-use.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved mechanism: which includes dies which are adapted for straightening rods by a rapid succession of hammer blows and mechanism for advancing the rods between the blows, at a predetermined rate relatively to the hammer blows, for expediting the work; in which the dies are adjustable for adapting the feed rolls for rods 'of different diameters; in which feed rolls are operable at different speeds for performing the work with a minimum of blows on rods of different diameters; which includes means for feeding the rods to the dies at dififerent speeds; which includes means for supporting the leading end of a rod until its trailing end has been released by the feed mechanism to prevent bending; which includes means for transversely delivering the straightened rods to a classifier or other rod handling machines; which is cfficient in operation and can be economically operated in connection with foundries. Other objects will appear from the actual description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of mechanism for straightening rods exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, the straightening dies being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through dies;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. l;

I Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the mechanism for feeding rods between the dies, parts being shown in section; I Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the feed mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section of the valve for controlling the gate for supporting the rods;

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the upper feed roll and its associated parts when they have been shifted by a rod between the rolls;

Fig. 9a is a perspective of the vertically adjustable frame for supporting the feed rolls;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10--10 of Fig. 5, and including means for supporting the straightened rods and discharging them onto a conveyor;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10, the guide for the rods being shown in section; and

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

The invention is exemplified in a machine which includes generally a pair of coacting dies between which the rods to be straightened are fed, mechanism for operating one of the dies for imparting a succession of hammer belows to rods to remove bends, mechanism for 2,891,597 Patented June 23, 1-959 feeding endwise rods of different lengths to straighten them from end to end, and mechanism for supporting the straightened rods until they have been completely straightened for delivery transversely to a classifier or other machine. v

The machine comprises a column or support 19, a lower die 21 fixedly supported on the pedestal and an upper reciprocable die 22 on a head 20. Each die has a pair of die faces 23 and 24, with the faces of one series relatively inclined and staggered with respect to the other series on the same die. Each series of faces of each die is transversely aligned and parallel with and opposed to a series of the faces on the other members. The faces of each series of the dies are V-shaped and spaced apart to receive between them the die faces on the other die. The faces. of the lower die are V-shaped and upwardly divergent and the faces of the upper die are V-shaped and downwardly divergent, and when moved together will remove bends and kinks from the rods. The upper die is recip'rocated to impart a rapid succession of hammer blows to the rods, for expediting the work and more efficient straightening. The sides and front of the dies 21 and 22 are enclosed by a guard 27, which is supported on the column 19 and provided with an opening 2? through which the rods pass to the dies. The lower die 21 is suitably and fixedly secured secured by screws on the column 19. The upper die 22 is secured to a head 20 which is slidably mounted on a suitable guide-way on a member 32 of the column 19.

The mechanirns for reciprocating the upper die 22 comprises: a shaft. 35 which is journalled in bearings 36 on the upper end of column 19; a belt-pulley 37 on shaft 35; a belt-pulley 40 on a shaft 41 which is adjusta'bly mounted on .a bracket 42 and is adapted tobe driven from any suitable source of power; a belt 43 between pulleys 45 and 37; a fly-wheel 46 on shaft 35; and a crank-pin 47 on said fly-wheel. The upper die 22 is reciprocated from crankepin 47 by mechanism which comprises: a stud 5i) integral with a bearing 51 which is journalled on crank-pin 47; a collar 52 which is adjustably secured by a set-screw 53 to stud 50; a pair of depending levers 54 pivoted at 55 to collar 52, links 56 pivoted to head 20 which carries the upper die 22 and to levers 54; and a compression spring 57 between levers 54. The levers 54, link 56, spring 57 and collar 52 form a connection between the crank-pin 47 and the die-head 22 which makes it possible to utilize resilient hammer blows for straightening the rods with deformation. Thus as crank pin 47 moves up the levers 54 move up wtih it. Spring 57 holds the levers spread in substantially the position shown so that even through the links 56 pivot downward slightly they will lift the head 20. The fly-wheel 46 and crank-pin 47 are continuously driven to impart a rapid succession of hammer blows at a predetermined rate relatively to the endwise advance of the rod between the dies, by mechanism hereinafter described for straightening rods of difierent lengths from end to end.

For straightening rods of different diameters and different lengths and from end to end, mechanism is provided for advancing rods endwise between the dies. This feed mechanism includes a pair of coacting feed-rolls which are located to pull the rods away from the dies and frictionally to grip their leading ends for advancing them until the rods are straightened throughout their entire lengths. These feed-rolls are mounted on a frame 60 which is secured by screws 61 and slots 62 for slight vertical adjustment of the feed-rolls for engaging rods of different diameters and advancing them in alignment with axes of the rods between the dies. A lower roll 64 is fixed on a drive-shaft 65 and has a tread 66 of rubher or elastic material with a straight periphery. Shaft 3 65 is journalled in frame 60. An upper roll 68 has a V- shaped groove in its periphery and is supported for movement relatively to the lower roll and coacts with the elastic tread 66 on the lower roll 64 to advance the rods.

The feed-rolls 64 and 68 are adapted to grip the leading end of a rod from the dies and advance it into a stationary guide 71 of inverted channel cross-section until the trailing end of the rod leaves the feed-rolls. A gate 70 is provided to support the rods vertically until their trailing ends have passed between the feed-rolls, so that the leading ends of long rods will not be bent while the trailing ends are gripped by the feed-rolls. This gate 70 is actuated to deliver the straightened rods transversely onto a conveyor and controlled to support the rods until their trailing ends are released and moved away from the feed-rolls, and to drop the rods transversely onto a conveyor after they have been released. The guide 71 is secured by brackets 72 to posts 73 which are fixed to supporting beams 74 of a structure which includes an inclined plate 75 which is supported on said structure and is adapted to deliver the rods transversely to the conveyor of rod classifying apparatus, for example, as exemplified in my application for Letters Patent filed July 14, 1954, Serial No. 443,273, now U.S. Patent 2,852,136, issued Sept. 16, 1958. The gate 76 has welded thereto a pivot-rod 76 which is mounted in lugs 77 on beams 74, and is pivoted to swing from a horizontal or closed position across the open bottom of guide 71 to an inclined position over and parallel with plate 75. When the gate 70 is tilted downwardly, the rod thereon will drop or roll onto the plate 75. The gate 70 is normally held by a spring '79 in position to release the rods and is held in its closed position under guide 71 by a fluid pressure device which includes an air cylinder 86 secured to a bar 81, a piston 82 in said cylinder which is provided with a stem, engages one end of gate 70 and is adapted when operated by air under pressure to said cylinder to hold the gate in its closed position against the force of spring '79. The gate '71 is automatically controlled to hold a rod in guide 71 when any part of that rod is between feed-rolls 64 and 68, and to open said gate to release the rod when that rod has cleared the feed-rolls.

Upper feed-roll 68 is mounted on a shaft 68a which is journalled in an arm 83 which is pivoted to swing vertically on a shaft 84 which is supported on frame 611. A valve-structure generally designated 35 is operable by arm 83 responsive to movements of roll 68 relatively to roll 64, and includes an arm 87 which is pivotally supported to swing vertically on a shaft 88 which is mounted in frame 60, a valve casing with a valve-chamber 89, a piston valve 90 slidable in said chamber; a pipe 91 connected to a source of compressed air, a pipe 92 communicatively connecting valve-chamber 89 and the cylinder 80 of the device for operating gate '70. When piston-valve 90 is lowered in chamber 89 by a spring 93, member 90a of valve 85 will cut ofl? the supply of air to chamber 89, and air from cylinder 80 will pass from pipe 92 to atmosphere through chamber 89 to a port 94. When valve 9t) is lifted, its member 911a will admit air from pipe 91 into chamber 89 and valve member 96b will close port 94 to cause air to flow via pipe 92 to cylinder 80 for holding the gate 76 closed. Valve 96 extends below the valve casing and is operable in chamber 69 by arm 83 which carries upper feed-roll 68 for admitting air to pipe 92 and cylinder 80 for closing gate 70. A set screw 96 on arm 87 is adapted to abut against arm 83 which carries roll 68, for limiting the movement of valve 90 by arm 83 and roll 68. A spring 97 is applied between guide 71 and a lug 93 on the valve structure 85 for urging arm 87 and the valve structure 85 down wardly. Arm 83, when no rod is between the rolls 64 and 68, permits the roll 68 to gravitate into engagement with roll 64 so that when a rod is inserted between said rolls, the upper roll 63 will be moved away from the lower roll, and arm 83 will swing upwardly for initially actuating valve and when arm 83 engages the stop-screw 96, the force of spring 97 will be applied through structure 85 and screw 96 to urge arm 83 to force the roll 68 against the rod between the rolls for advancing the rod.

For controlling the timely operation of gate 70 by rods of different diameters and for ease of entrance of rods of different diameters between rolls, the downward limit of valve structure 85 is varied by means of an adjustable lever 100 which is pivoted at to swing vertically on an extension 103 of frame 61 and adapted to be engaged by an abutment 101 on said valve structure which is spring-pressed downwardly. A pin 102 slidably mounted in extension 103 is adapted to lock lever 109 by means of a series of holes 104, in different positions to arrest abutment 101 for positioning the lower end of valve 90 so it will be operated responsively to rods of different diameters according to the index on extension 103. Shafts 84 and 88 on which arms 83 and 87 are supported, are mounted in and extend between extension 103 and an extension 106 on frame 60. The feed-rolls and their associated devices are conjointly adjustable vertically with the frame 69.

The mechanism for driving the feed-rolls comprises: a belt 109 driven by shaft 35; a pulley 110 driven by belt 169; a countershaft 111 for pulley 110 journalled in bearings 112; a shaft 113 mounted in bearings 114; a coil spring 15 which functions as a resilient coupling between shaft 113 and the shaft 65 of the lower roll 64; and a variable speed belt-drive between shafts 111 and 113 for varying the speed of the feed-rolls relatively to the number of blows on the rods by the dies. When rods of small diameters are being worked on, the speed of the feed-rolls can be increased to expedite the work because blows of lesser number sufiice to remove bends than from rods of larger diameters. The variable speed drive between shafts 111 and 113 comprises: a V-belt 117; an adjustable pulley for said belt which includes a section 118 keyed to shaft 111 and a mating section 119 slidable on said shaft and slidably connected to section 118; an adjustable pulley for said belt including a section 120 keyed to shaft 113 and a mating section 121 slidable on shaft 113 and slidably connected to section 120; a spring 122 for urging section 121 toward section 120, a control device for adjusting said pulley section 119 includes a screw collar 123 threaded to bearing 112 and connected by a ball-bearing to the hub of section 119 for axially adjusting said section 119. When collar 123 is adjusted to move section 119 toward pulley section 118, the belt 117 will be forced to engage sections 118 and 119 on a large radius and spring 122 will permit sections 120 and 121 to engage the belt on a shorter radius for increasing the speed of shaft 113 and the feed-roll 641. When the pulley section 119 is adjusted away from section 118, belt 117 will engage said sections on a shorter radius, and spring 122 will cause said belt to engage sections 126 and 121 on a longer radius, thus decreasing the speed of the feed-rolls. The dies are operated at a predetermined number of blows per minute. When rods of a small diameter are being straightened, the speed of the feed-rolls is increased to accelerate the travel of the rods between the dies, and the work of straightening the rods is expedited. The spring coupling between shaft 113 and the shaft 35 of feed-roll 64 functions to resiliently drive said roll relatively to the continuously driven shaft 113, and permit the feed-rolls to lag intermittently and momentarily when the rods are receiving the blows from the dies. This avoids excessive wear on the rolls and particularly the elastic tread on roller 64. The spring coupling 115 also permits slight vertical adjustment of the lower feed-roll relatively to the lower die for aligning the feed-rolls with the axis of rods of different diameters between the dies.

The operation will be as follows; assuming shaft 35 to be dfivem'the upper die 22-will beueciprocated to and from the' lower"die 2-1 and 'the-feed -roll 64 will he continuously driven. Lever 100- will be adjusted on plate 103 according to the index thereon to limit the downward movement of structure 85 by spring 97 for feeding rods of one diameter, for example, /2" dia. At this position, rod entering space between rolls 64 and '68 will only be required to lift roller 68 a short distance, and in this lifting will actuate valve 90 and further allow spring 97 to exert force on roller 68 to grip rod between rolls 64 and 68. If this adjustment was not made, or was not possible, /2" dia. rod would be required to lift roller 68 thru a distance much greater and at an angle to center line of roller 68 which would require an extra large effort by the operator to force rod between roller. Spring 97 will exert a downward pull on valve structure 85 and urge abutment 101'against lever 100 to position the lower end of valve 90 so that it will be actuated when a rod of that diameter is inserted between the feed-rolls 64 and 68. The leading end of a rod is then passed between the dies to and between the feedrolls and will lift the upper roll 68 which is then free for limited upward movement. The rod between the rolls will lift the roll 68 and arm 83. The outer end of arm 83 will shift valve 90 in chamber 89 while the structure 85 is restrained by spring 97 and until arm 83 strikes the stop-screw 96, and its further movement is resisted by the force of spring 97 which is applied to structure 85 and arm 87. This causes the spring 97 through structure 85 and arm 87 to urge the arm 83 on which the upper feed-roll 68 is mounted to force said feed-roll into gripping engagement with the rod until the entire rod has been fed endwise between the rolls 64 and 68. During the advance of the rod between the dies, a succession of hammer blows will remove the bends and kinks from the rod from end to end. When valve 90 is actuated upon insertion of a rod between rolls 64 and 68 it will remain actuated until the trailing end of the rod leaves the rolls 64 and 68. While valve 90 is thus act uated, compressed air will flow from pipe 91 via chamber 89 and pipe 92 to the cylinder 80 and the stem of piston 82 will hold the gate 70 closed so that the rod will be supported against bending until it is released from the feed-rolls. Spring 97 will urge the structure 85 with its arm 87 downwardly until abutment 101 is arrested by lever 100 and arm 83 will permit upper feed-roll 68 to drop against the lower roll 64. Spring 93 will then actuate valve 90 to cut ed the supply of air to chamber 89 and will open said chamber to atmosphere for the exhaust of air from cylinder 80. Spring 79 will then swing the gate 70 from its closed position to discharge the rod which has been straightened from end to end for dropping the rod transversely onto the inclined plate 75 for distribution or classification.

In practice, rods of like diameter and varying lengths are straightened durnig a run. For the usual series of diameters of rods used in foundries, the lever 100 is adjusted for the operation of valves 90 to close gate 70 and to apply suitable pressure on the upper feed-roll for advancing the rods. The speed of the feed-rolls is accelerated for advancing rods of lesser diameter and decrease the advance of rods of greater diameters, while the number of strokes of die 22 increases as diameters of rods increase and decrease as diameters of rods decrease. This expeditcs the work on all diameters of rods. Collar 23 is readily adjustable to increase the contacting radius of belt 117 with pulley sections 118 and 119 and decreasing the contacting radius of the belt with pulley sections 120 and 121. Reverse adjustment of collar 123 will force pulley section 119 to increase the radius of belt 117 and pulley sections 118 and 119, and springpressed pulley section 120 will force said belt to engage pulley sections on a longer radius so that the feed-roll 6 will be driven ata slowerspeed relatively to the number of strokes of die 21.

The invention exemplifies a machine for straightening bent rods which is advantageous for use infoundries; which includes mechanism for feeding bent rods throughout their entire length and deliver the straightened rods tranv'ersely to a conveyor or classifier; mechanism for feeding rods to the dies at different speed for expediting the work on rods of lesser diameters; means for supporting the straightened rods as they are dis-charged endwise from the feed-rolls to prevent them from being bent, and automatically controlled by the rods; and means for adjustably supporting the feed mechanism relatively to the dies; and means for accepting rods of different diameters between the rolls with no noticeable increase in force required to engage rod in rolls, and which has a high capacity and is efficient.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a pair of dies for straightening rods between them, one of which is movable to and from the other and power driven mechanism for imparting a succession of hammer blows at a predetermined rate to said movable die, of a pair of coacting rotatable elements for gripping rods in endwise succession, one of said elements being supported to be moved away from the other by the rods, means for urging the movable element toward the other element, gearing for driving one of said rotatable elements and advancing the rod, a gate for supporting the leading ends of the rods after they have passed between said elements, operable to discharge the rods transversely, and means controlled by the movable element when the trailing end of a rod is released by said elements, for operating the gate to discharge the rod.

2. The combination with a pair of dies for straightening rods between them, one of which is movable to and from the other and power driven mechanism for imparting a succession of hammer blows at a predetermined rate to said movable die, of coacting rolls for gripping rods in endwise succession, one of said rolls being supported to be moved away from the other by the rod, spring-means for urging the movable roll toward the other, gearing for driving one of said rolls and advancing the rod, a support for the leading ends of the rods after they have passed between said rolls, pivotally supported on an axis parallel to the length of the rods to discharge the rods transversely, and fluid pressure means controlled by the movable roll when the trailing end of a rod is released by the rolls, for controlling movement of the support about its pivotal axis to discharge the rod.

3. The combination with a pair of dies for straightening rods between them, one of which is movable to and from the other and power driven mechanism for imparting a succession of hammer blows at a predetermined rate to said movable die, of coacting rotatable elements for gripping rods in endwise succession, one of said elements being supported normally to move toward the other and to be moved away from the other by the rod, a valve engageable by the movable element to be operated thereby, adjustable means for adjusting the position of the valve relative to the movable element for rods of different diameters, gearing for driving one of said rotatable elements and advancing the rod, a gate for supporting the leading ends of the rods after they have passed between said elements, operable to discharge the rod transversely, and means controlled by the valve when the trailing ends of rods are released by said elements for operating the gate to discharge the rod.

meme? References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hardaker Aug. 7, 1917 Heinrichs Dec. 5, 1922 5 Hornberger Dec. 18, 1928 Blount Oct. 19, 1937 Huston Sept. 20, 1938 8 Davis June 13, 1944 Collins Oct. 10, 1950 Payne July 15, 1952 Eaton Oct. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 17, 1944 

